Signaling means for storage tanks



Feb. 25, 1941. H. F. TAPP A 2,2332% SIGNALING MEANS FOR STGRAGE; TANKS Filed April 8, 1938 INVENTOR Ham" 1; 73m

L A ORNEY? Patented Feb. 25, 1941 UNITED. STATES? PATENT OFFICE SIGNALING MEANS FOR STORAGE TANKS Harry I. Tapp, Longmeadow, Mala, assignor to Gilbert it Barker Manufacturing Company, West Springfield. Mala, a corporation of Massachnsetts Application April 8, 1938, Serial No. 200,818

3Claims.

The invention, while not limited thereto, is especially useful in connection with. storage tanks of liquid fuel. As a single fllustrative example, the mean of this invention is adkpted for use in connection with storage tanks for fuel oil. Particularly, when such tanks are located inside a building and are iilled by an operator from outside the building, the invention affords a convenient means for warning the operator when the i5 tank is nearly full so that he may discontinue the iilling operation in time to prevent overflowing the tank.

The invention has for an object the provision of a signaling means operable by air derived from the vent passage of the tank and a means in said passage normally diverting enough air therefrom to said signal to operate the same, said means being movable by a float located in 'the upper part of said'tank when the liquid rises to a predetermined level in said tank, to a position to open said passage for the usual venting flow of air therethrough-diverting the flow of air from thesignaling means to stop the operation of the same. The invention also has for an object to pro-, vide a whistle as a simple and inexpensive form of air-operated signal.

Another object of the invention is to mount the whistle in said vent passage so that the as -whistle itself blocks substantially all the air flow through said e, except through the whistle openings, and to bodily move the whistle by the float as and under the condition above described to fully open said passage and discontinue opera- 4o tion of the whistle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a whistle or other air-operated signal which may be remotely located from the tank and connected by a conduit'to said vent passage, and to pro- 48 vide a valve in said passage above the point of entry of said conduit-said valve being operable by the float as and under the condition above described, to open said passage but being normally positioned to close the same and divert the air flow to said conduit and whistle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a whistle of improved construction with a carrier therefor capable of connection to said float or to said conduit.

" at These objects will best be understood as the detailed description proceeds and they will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The inventionwlll be disclosed with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a 5 storage tank having a signaling means embodying the invention; o

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a modification;

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional plan views taken 'on the lines 3-! and 4-4, respectively, of Fig. 10

l; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing the detail of the mounting of the whistle.

Referring to the drawing, a storage tank is indicated in part at l0 and n is the usual in- 15 teriorly-threaded opening'to receivea vent pipe, by means of which air may pass into and out of the tank as liquid discharges from or enters, respectively, the tank through the usual inlet and outlet, not herein shown.

The signaling device of this invention is ap-- plied to a-special fitting l2, having a passage 13 therethrough. Fitting I! has an exteriorly threaded lower end to screw into tank opening I II and an interiorly threaded upper end into 35 which the vent pipe I is threaded. Intermediate its ends, the passage I3 is provided with a shoulder i5 forming a seat tor-a carrier it of annular form. This carrier has a plurality (three as shown) of depending arms I], the lower ends 30 of which are turned inwardly and joined to a central hub It. A small rod I0 is threaded into hub l0 and depends therefrom into the upper. portion of tank l0. Rod l9 carries a float 20,.

held thereto by upper and lower washers 21 5.

which i'rictionally grip the rod and firmly hold the float in place but allow adjustment of the float vertically on the rod, whenever necessary or desired. The outside diameter of float 20 is less than that of opening ll so that the float 0 can be inserted into the tank through such opening.

The carrier It in that form of the invention shown in Fig. 1 carries a whistle. .A desirable construction of the whistle is shown in Fig. 5. 4s

The whistle is composed of two parts 22 and 23 of thin sheet metal, each having a hole 20 of small diameter therethrough. The lower part 22 is generally cup-shaped in term with an outturned flange 25 embordering its upper end. The 5 cup-shaped part fits within the opening in the carrier and its flange rests on a seat '20 provided near the upper end of the carrier. Embordering this seat, and slightly inturned to partially overlie it, is a circular lip or bead 21.. The

Y upper whistle part 2:, in theshape or a circular we s disc, bowed upwardly as shown, is sprung into place with its lower margin pressing onthe flange to hold the part 22 in place and its upper margin held beneath head 21. The whistle construction disclosed is desirable, important and preferred but nother constructions maybe used and the} 1v, "iitionfinits broaden aspects, is not limited 'to use-one construction herein disclosed.

Above the "whistle, some suitable stop is provided to limit its upward movement under the action 01 float 20. Conveniently, a- -xpin 28 is passed into passage is through a hole 28 in its wall, to extend diametrically across said passage with its inner end seated in a blind hold 32 in said wall. The outer end" of hole 28 is then closed to hold pin 28 in place by a screw 3!, threaded into said end 01 the hole.

This pin also retains the whistle in place after it'has been assembled in fitting l2 bydropping it,'-tog ether with its carrier. and rod 19, into the upper -;end oi-passage-ii. "The float 20 is then slippedon rod is topomplete the assembly.

The lower part pi-passage, i3" (below the whistle) preferably has av lateral outlet 32., When, the invention is used asshown in Fig. ,1, this outlet has no function and it is closemasbytlie plug. l

. Inthat form of the. invention shown in Fig. 2,

the" outlet 32 ishtiliaed, the plug being removed and replaced by a pipe 34 of suitable length and shape to extend to the desired location. on the end of pipe 34 isa head or carrier 35, in which a whistle oi the same iorm as above described is mounted;sin. :the same; way. Carrier 35 has a centralholfi "therein aflordingcommunication between pipe flandkthe whistle. ans-earne l-t'with itsia'ttached guide arms I! and'rod is with soar- :02am provided asin the flr'sttormr except that the carrier-has mounted in it an imperforate circular; disc 21. I v

vln operation, the carrierf s hQlfmally rests on opening'of restricted area is then available, viz., thewhistle openings 24; The float-'20 lies-in the nope-ripest oixithe' tank land the liquid does not-'=-reach"and move? the float until the tank is nearly lull; although the. level at "which the float will act is. susceptible of /variation by the. ad-.. justment described, throughout a substantial range. As soon as filling of tank" commences, the inward rush of liquid i'orces air topass out ;oi' the tank at relatively high velocity through the whistle and thus a signal is given to the operr-ator. In'the case of Fig. 1, the whistlesignal is transmitted through the vent pipe I to the outer end thereof. When this arrangement is not desired, thatshown in Fig. 2 is used, which enables the signal to located remotelyv or spasms the tank'has been suillci'ently filled and he stopshaving a vent passage in any place desired independently or the location or the vent pipe. In the case of an inside A tank, the Fig; 2 arrangement enables the alarm to be given inside the building in which'the tank is located. while the Fig. 1 arrangement i enables the alarm to be given outside to the operator who is iilling the tank. The whistling continues until the liquid reaches a-Qipredetermined level in the tank, when it is because the float 2| has raised the carrier it from 10 its seat it In each form of the invention, the V raising of the carrier opens an unrestricted vent-the passage'il-and diverts most of the air from the whistle. In any case, there is no a longer anyair passing through. the whistle at I sumciently highavelocity to operate it. Asaoon as the whistling ceases, the operator knows that the filling operation. I

WhatIclaimis: s

1. The combination with a tank for liquid having a vent c with a valveseat formed therein, oian air-operated signal connected to said passage at a point below said seat, a valve member normally positioned on said seat to close said passage and divertair' to said sign l. and. a iioat in the upper part of saidtank connected; to unseat said valve and open said passage when the liquid in said tank rises to a predetermined level.

with a-tank for liquids and a'seat intermediate v V the ends oi said passage, of a valve normally positioned on said seat to block oil air ilow 2. The combination through said e, a whistle remote irom said passage, a conduit connecting the whistle to'said passage at a point below saidvalve. ands 'iioat' in the upper part oi saidtank'connect'ed 'to said valve and operabie-whentheliquid in said tank' rises to a predetermined level to unseat said valve and open said passage to divert from said conduit. I I

3. In apparatus-oi the class described, a car rier having a cylindrical recess in one face thereof and having a smaller passage extending (rom ine-bottom of said recess to the opposite:

lacev thereoinsaid carrier having an annular ledge embordering the upper edge of said recessand an annular bead embordering said ledge and extending upwardly from and then inwardly over said ledge, a whistle section havingja per- Ioration therethrough and having an out-turned flange, said section mounted in said recess-with its flange seated on said ledge and withintsaid" bead, and a second whistle section bowed i'orm having a central perioratlon'and having its marginal part resting on said flange and held betweenthe latter and said head. HARRY FL TAPP;

oi outwardly I p 

